Glamorgan Heritage Coast

At the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan coastline is a particularly special 14-mile stretch that was awarded Heritage Coast status in 1972.

The Glamorgan Heritage Coast begins at Aberthaw and goes all the way to Porthcawl in the west. The Heritage Coast features dramatic cliffs, amazing rock formations, secluded romantic coves, all backed by rolling countryside.

The unique characteristics and conditions of the seashore have resulted in a coastline that is home to a vast array of species, while it is also a real draw for bird-watchers who can look out for Choughs, Fulmars, Bar-Tailed Godwits and Peregrine Falcons.

One of the best ways to explore the area, especially its most remote parts, is by lacing up your walking boots to tackle the Heritage Coast Path, part of the Wales Coast Path. The path lets you either look down on, or walk through, most of the area’s beaches.

When you reach the stepping stones at Ogmore Castle, the path then leads you around one of the most fascinating landscapes in the UK, the Merthyr Mawr sand dunes.

The dunes are one of those places that, once visited, you will never forget. Next to forestry and the remains of Candleston Castle are a maze of pathways and dunes, in the closest place Wales has to a desert. Kids will love tumbling down the dunes, and don’t forget to take a sledge with you to ride down the Big Dipper, the biggest sand dune in Europe.

Heritage Coast Centre

Southerndown, CF32 0RP.

You can find out more about our coastline by visiting the Heritage Coast Centre in Dunraven Park, Southerndown. The centre includes a small shop and information point containing lots of useful literature about the coast, and the Rangers based at the centre work hard to educate coastal visitors and school groups about the need to conserve this beautiful stretch of coastline. Tel: 01656 880157 for opening times.

The Glamorgan Heritage Coast